Transcript
Speaker: Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounders legend. Now I get to do voice reads for the Sounder at Heart podcast network. Here we go.
Speaker: Come on. Hey, O'Shaughness. Let's The Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. The Sounders rule the region.
Speaker: Ooch of a gooch! All creatures, great and small! Rothrock gonna collect it, he does about, runs into the advertising order. Low to our left, ball goes in! Oh, what a Where's my copy? got bunch of them How many do you cost them? 50 bucks.
Speaker: I'll deadline you.
Speaker: This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounder supporters.
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Speaker: Hey, what's going on? Sounder Heart family, thank you for being on. This is me, Adam Race, the only man with a mustache close enough to Andrew Thomas, who, you know, you might think he's the best stash in the city, but no, it's really the guy right next to me. I'm excited to come talk to you guys because guess what? we We're in an eight-game Winning streak, not winning streak, but, you know, undefeated streak. And then we have three games that we've been winning back to back to back at home.
Speaker: Adam, how are we feeling today? It seems like just like right out here in the beautiful Central District or International District, the sun is beaming upon our studio as the sun and the winds are beaming upon the Seattle Sounders. Yeah, I mean, Nico, when we came into this homestand, I remember saying that we needed to get six points, maybe seven points. Honestly, I didn't expect them to get all nine. I thought that the slump was too low. I thought that one of these games, it was going to go wrong for them. And it almost did.
Speaker: To be fair, a few of the 45 minutes that were played on this homestand, we're not convincing at all. Second half against Minnesota. the first half in both the ah RSL game and the sporting Kansas city game were just not good enough, but credit to this team being able to take a good 45 minutes and propel it to all three points.
Speaker: Um, I think it's interesting that you have slow starts and slow finishes on this homestand because the first 45 minutes against Minnesota was excellent. Uh, we talked about that. They were just better than Minnesota. And in the second half, Minnesota came out and probably played better than the sounders to the second 45. But, uh,
Speaker: 45 minutes into that Sporting KC game, it was so similar to how I felt at halftime against Real Salt Lake, where I just thought this team just doesn't have it. This is not how they need to be playing. This is not a team you can come out this flat against.
Speaker: And the changes were made. i would call this a Brian Schmetzer masterclass. He did an amazing job of changing how that game was played, ah changing the momentum, ah changing who the point of attack was, bringing Sebastian Gomez, and just immediately changing that game when Seba Gomez came on.
Speaker: Everything's looking up right now, but as we've said, The Sounders are not back until they prove it against a playoff team. They played three teams that I don't think are going to be real playoff contenders to make it or to compete in the playoffs at all. They need to prove it on the road against real quality size before we can say that they are back truly.
Speaker: So is that your headline? Brian Masterclass? Is that what it is? I think that this was a Brian Schmetzer Masterclass. I think that's a big takeaway from this. The other takeaway is that ah Sebastian Gomez off the bench is the real deal right now. you know, at the 20-year-old who's looking like Georgie Manungu looked in his prime for the Sounders, how Paul Rothrock looked in his breakout season.
Speaker: Ryan can just spring it on some tired defenders and they just don't seem to have an answer. He's so confident on the ball off the dribble, but what really sets him apart, Jordan Morris talked about this after the game, his vision and his composure in the final third is so far ahead of his years. The fact that he's able to beat a player one-on-one, But he also knows when that's not the best option, when he has to keep his head up and look for the options. You saw it on the last goal against Rail Salt Lake, the goal from Paul Areola. Sebastian Gomez coming down the left side. He keeps his head up. He finds Albert Rusnak in the pocket because he drew the defense into him on the wide area.
Speaker: Gets it to Albert. Albert finds a wide-open runner in Paul Areola. You know, it's a great secondary assist plus the goal, plus the primary assist as well. I mean, he's just been in excellent form. Brian knew that that was the change that needed to be made.
Speaker: ah Brian Schmetzer did excellent to to turn that game around because first 45 minutes, like I said, was just down in the dumps. Just wasn't good enough against a sporting Kansas City team that's, you know, a wooden spoon a contender. Right now they had to do better than that, and they did come out and do better than that.
Speaker: Yeah, look, I don't want to take anything away from Brian Schmetzer because he really did do a great job at understanding when the substance needed to be put in he uh does a great job in the halftime right he he how many times have we seen this team not be great in the first half they go into the locker room he says the right things moves the right levers pushes the right buttons and his team comes out in the second half plays a lot better so you do got to give him a little bit of credit but i do think that at least for me my headline is
Speaker: Jordan Morris, the X factor in 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City that now puts the Sounders at seventh place in the Washington Conference. Because to me, look, you can do whatever you want as a head coach, right? You could have the formations, really deliver the concepts, put in the right substitutions. But if guys cannot execute it, look, it's going to be a rough day in the office. But Jordan Morris has been so good at just...
Speaker: not just playing his role, but being able to elaborate, create moments, right? Just sometimes you got to figure it out on the field, right? You got to be able to improvise. And when a guy is pulling your shirt and is grabbing you, like you owe him money and he is not allowing you to move around. He drags you to the ground where, Hey, could, would have been a PK if maybe you don't get on that ball, perhaps, but you,
Speaker: Jordan Morris never doubted himself to not let it go that far. I'm not going to let the referee decide whether or not we don't get this goal. So on the ground, he picks his head up, sees Seba Gomez making a phenomenal run, and as you would in the backyard of your house or, you know, playing with with the boys on the street or at a Green Lake or whatever you do your soccer ring, From the ground, he passes that ball back to Seba Gomez. And you look, as you said, Gomez has been phenomenal, right? He's been a spark plug. He's been this, I don't know, fundamental guy coming off the bench. He gets the goal, gets this team going in the right direction. So for me, Jordan Morris, though, he is the storyline. He is someone that...
Speaker: Again, constantly scrutinized, constantly doubted. He's had a lot of injuries. Look, I myself find myself... wondering, you know you know, can Jordan continue to do this with all the difficulties, with all of the the things he has to overcome?
Speaker: And time and time again, he proves us right as a guy that he's the DP player, right? He's someone that is supposed to be your, he is your all-time goal scorer. But by right now, just the role of being such a dangerous player that creates so much havoc and now is producing. Man, that that's literally the reason why this Sounders team, when three games winning, won nine of nine at home, and now they find themselves not just in a playoff position, but in seventh place with one game, by the way, one game in their pocket.
Speaker: Yeah, they're they're in as good of a spot as they've been for months now. they I think Jeremiah said it on Friday that these three games really establishes them. They showed they are playoff team. This is a team that is at that level. They're beating the teams below that, going three for three on games against teams below them in the table.
Speaker: We are yet to see if this is perhaps a team that you have to really look at in the playoffs. I know Brian Schmetzer was saying postgame, this is a team that no one is going to want to play in the playoffs. yeah I love that from Brian. I don't think that's been proven yet. I think you need to go get results on the road.
Speaker: Win one of these next two against New England and Dallas. Then you can really talk about yourself as one of those dark horse teams that can cause a stir in the playoffs. And going back to Jordan Morris, to tie in from my headline to your headline, the movement of Jordan Morris to the nine position, because remember that, that substitution at a halftime, Seba Gomez coming in, that's not a like for like substitution. He comes in for Danny Mazovsky, who was playing the nine in the first half and was invisible. To be honest, ah he comes in and he goes to the left wing. Well, Jordan Morris goes to the nine and his ability
Speaker: to disrupt a back line, run in behind, just cause havoc and allow the team to play direct, to get the defense turned around. Didn't happen at all in the first 45 minutes against Gordon, Kansas city.
Speaker: SKC were taking it to us. They were facing forward. They were pressing us. They were forcing defensive mistakes. They had eight shots on goal in that first half. And almost all of those came on giveaways in the defensive third. yes quick transition moments. That's still something you have to clean up. You have to have to have to clean up. You are going to get punished for that against those top of the table teams. Sporting Kansas City punished it on a beautiful finish that made it one nothing.
Speaker: You cannot play that way for 45 minutes against the top of the table team. They're going to put more than one beyond you. and they're not going to let you make that adjustment. They're going to keep that pressure on you. But the Sounders come out. They turn the defense around in the second half. They're able to play direct. And that's what Jordan Morris, over this recent stretch, has been able to provide. So much time during that winless run, that first 45 minutes was how complete 90s would go.
Speaker: is We're playing off the counter. Correct. We're getting pressed. that's There's teams that can do that very well. The Seattle Sounders, that's not their game. That's not how they win games. That's not how they've won games under b Brian Schmetzer.
Speaker: They get the other team turned around. They control the ball. That's how they play their style. This is a squad that is built to play that way. If they can't control games like that, they're not going to get results. So not only are we going to be looking, obviously, of if they can pick up points on the road,
Speaker: But can they have spells of play where they're controlling the tempo, where they're turning defenses around against quality squads like New England and Dallas? That's going to be very telling for if this team can make a postseason run.
Speaker: yeah Look, and what's your headline, guys out there? Let me know. what it is that you think that is the the biggest headline out of this game, out of the three game winning streak that this team has. If you have any questions, let us know, like subscribe, share, help us grow.
Speaker: Adam, myself, my boy, J.O. on the background, doing the work on the board. We even got my man, Nick Shargas here. Shout my man, Nick. He's out here as well. I had spot in making sure that this studio space last event area, event center, is up to par. So, you know, we're just doing things here, making sure that you guys are informed because you guys enjoy the show.
Speaker: And so look, To be honest, you are right. I mean, those changes that Brian made, they're all accurate. I think that being able to pull the plug on Danny Masovsky when he was just so easy to defend, and we're not going to go into it because Jeremiah and I both talked about and what we learned this week, so i don't need to go over it again. But Brian's recognition of what needed to happen in order to get this team going in the right direction help out with the fluidity, understand that one guy makes a huge difference, specifically on that spot, like Jordan Morris, because he wasn't just a threat to get behind the center backs, but he was also very good on link-up play. He was able to press better. just Everything just looked better for this team.
Speaker: So we'll talk about the starting 11 here in one second, but I want to know if J.O., I don't know if you're ready to go, J.O., because I know that we're making sure that your mic is all good. You know, any thoughts on, you know, what we've been talking about and just that game, what it means moving forward and, you know, Brian's Mets or Jordan Morris, everything that's worked well for this team.
Speaker: Yeah, i want to say that, ah first of all, we got our our camera working now. So we ah we are... You can see me. I'm not just a voice behind the curtain anymore.
Speaker: But, ah yeah, I mean, I think i was really... Like I said on our show Friday, I think this was a huge step forward in terms of just proving that the Sounders are contenders.
Speaker: But we are not, you know, we we aren't there yet. we We have some big games coming up. I'm very encouraged by Jordan Morris. I'm very encouraged by the by. I'm really excited to see what this looks like when Deky is out there with maybe even Jesus Ferreira with Albert Rusnak with Jordan Morris playing like he is all of a sudden. This is a very competent attack and they have useful players coming off the bench set Seba Gomez.
Speaker: I just we were running the numbers on this thing. He is write up i mean If you compare his sees his rookie season to the breakout season that Georgie Minungu had last year, if you compare it to the breakout season that Paul Rothrock had two years ago, he's right there on ah on a permanent basis.
Speaker: And I really like what I'm seeing. I like what I'm seeing all around. I love it. So before we move on from this game, I got a couple of things that I still want to get to, but... Adam, you had a story, Force Under Heart, on Seba Gomez and, you know, the impact he's had on this team at his age.
Speaker: He is someone that has certainly gone beyond the contributor face, if you if you ask me, right? All these players, they come in a certain section, right? Whether you're a contributor, you're an elite player, you're a DP, you're an influential player. It just seems like Seba Gomez has started off as a homegrown that was just going to be an additional body, if you will, a contributor. Someone was going to come in to being a an electric player off the bench, a spark plug guy, a as I've said before, Pulp Fiction type of just...
Speaker: Needle to the chest, right? I mean, it's just going to give you adrenaline, get the team going in the right direction. So just tell us a little bit about that article and, you know, what you have seen out of Sebastian Gomez.
Speaker: I will get to that, Nico. First, though, I do want to give a shout out. So, okay, in the Host Game press conference, we saw Brian Schmetzer come out with a pair of drumsticks. And I'm just seeing in the chat right now...
Speaker: um ah A familiar figure for me, Caleb D'Ambrough, also known as Styx. yes He is the Ballard FC drummer. He comes to Ballard FC game, sets up a full drum kit on the berm across the across the way from the field, and he is doing drum solos for the full match.
Speaker: It's so awesome that he's the person who gave Brian those drumsticks. I just want to give a shout out to you, Styx. That's awesome. And it was the good luck charm for this game. And Brian said that postgame he has to keep those Styx as they keep winning. So... Shout out to sticks.
Speaker: Okay. Um, on Sebastian Gomez, I mean, I'll be Frank when Sebastian Gomez first broke into this squad, I didn't really know much about him. I was thinking that this is one of those players that comes in when we're really down some players and we have to dig deep into the defiance. And honestly, I think Brian might've thought something similar. He said post game very candidly, after that sporting KC game, that when Sebastian was first training with the team, uh, quote,
Speaker: He was a nice kid and he was okay. um That's all I had to say about Sebastian Gomez's start to life training with the team. It was not expected that Sebastian Gomez, of course, was going to be this kind of sparkler player, but really even that Sebastian Gomez was going to be getting any kind of consistent minutes.
Speaker: um He continuously was in those 18s through the first part of the year without making the squad. He had been in the 18 nine different times before he made his debut.
Speaker: And even in that debut, that was actually the game where the Sounders started their winless streak, that loss to the Galaxy at home. It snapped the 22-game unbeaten home run. He only came into that game as the sixth substitute because Danny Mazowski came off with head injuries. The Sounders who were awarded an extra substitution.
Speaker: That's when he was able to come into the game He didn't do that much in that game. And really, he didn't do too much for his first few matches. i mean, I was down on Sebastian Gomez. I was thinking like, you know, this is another prospect coming up, but he he's too raw.
Speaker: He's not ready to make an impact at the and MLS level. I truly did believe that through his first few games, ah he started off as a midfield option. He would come in for Snyder Brunel late on in a game. He'd try to fill that role.
Speaker: And according to Jordan Morris, that's how Sebastian Gomez was training with the team. When he started, he was training as more of 10. He started to bit get moved out on the wing when the injury crisis really started to mount. That's when Jesus Ferreira went down.
Speaker: That was the debut on the wing for Sebastian Gomez. That was in a 2-0 loss to Vancouver. And in that game, I mean, i won't sugarcoat He stunk. He stunk in that game. he He didn't win any of his duels. He didn't get a lot of touches.
Speaker: He wasn't contributing as much defensively or offensively as he would have wanted to. And you cannot hold that against the kid. You know, he's coming in a position he hasn't trained in, and he's trying to adjust as a first-half substitute, an unexpected injury substitution. He played 50 minutes in that game, I think.
Speaker: And it didn't look like it was there. And it took him a couple games to get adjusted to it on the wing. That became his main role as he's playing, either on the left or on the right. He plays more centrally when he's on the right. He really likes to stick to the touchline when he's on that left wing.
Speaker: um And that's where we've ended up seeing him become so good, is is being down the left side as more of a Georgie Minungu, Paul Rothrock-like. And of course, now Paul Rothrock goes down with injury.
Speaker: And there's this question of who's going to fill that gap. Initially, when Paul Rothrock went down, it was kind of an audition match that Brian Smetzer put out on the wing. He started with Peter Kingston out there.
Speaker: Peter played 45 and was fine, but didn't really make an impression on the wing. And he brings in Sebastian Gomez. um This is the Colorado game, I believe. And Sebastian is so good in that second half.
Speaker: He gets his first assist. He sets up that Dan Jovlich, a banger, to make it 3-2. And aside from that assist, which, I mean, that was an amazing goal. Seba kind of rolls it to Dayon and Dayon does the rest. But on the ball in that game, something just looked different.
Speaker: It was so strange. I saw him dribbling in that match. And i was like, who is that? Is that Sebastian Gomez? He looks so confident. And it seemed like it just came out of nothing almost. Just one day he showed up and he was just like, I'm that guy.
Speaker: I'm going to create on my own. The defense is going to come to me and my teammates are going get free. And when the defense does come to me, they're not gonna be able to take the ball off of me. It was just such a quick adjustment from him. And Brian also talked postgame about the fact that Sebastian Gomez has not earned his way into the lineup with asking for minutes or anything. He's done it in training, on the field.
Speaker: It's just been just this renaissance, this revelation. It was so out of nowhere. And in that way, it also really reminds me of Paul Roth. Remember when Paul Roth, I broke into the scene, he was this unheralded prospect. He had kind of sputtered a little bit in the youth ranks over in in Toronto and everything. and he was He wasn't someone where you're like, this guy's going to make an impact.
Speaker: And he just comes in and he has an extra gear that other players don't have. and you don't expect to see it from him, but it's immediately evident. And that's what we've seen from Sebastian Gomez. And what is surprising to me is the fact that it showed up halfway through his season.
Speaker: But it's absolutely there right now. He is a man in form. He is so confident and not only confident, as I said, off the dribble, but confident in his vision and his distribution.
Speaker: Jordan Morris talked about how impressive that is for a player of his age that he can play off of everyone else around him. And when you have a day on Jovo Litch around you and you have a Jordan Morris around you, when you have Albert Rusnak in the middle, who of course can quarterback the offense, having someone on the left wing who can find those players,
Speaker: despite also being someone who is a dribbling savant right now, just taking on defenders one-on-one, it completely opens up defenses. It gets them panicking, gets them turned around.
Speaker: I think he has been one of, if not the biggest turnarounds over this three-match winning streak, for the Sounders. hey Look, I'm not going to disagree with that. I do think that there's something different about Seba Gomez because he's one of those players that I'm not nervous that he doesn't have ah mentor or that he has someone, you know, helping him, guiding him through this, you know, kind of change from being a a homegrown to being a more reliable player because he just reeks of confidence. I remember him talking about kind of
Speaker: tailoring his game around like Pedro. He wanted to be a Pedro type. He felt like he wasn't going to get on the ball and and just be a magnet with with with the ball. And i was like, wow, you know that's a little bit, you know, overzealous. You know what I mean? ah yeah I can dig it. But but i yeah that's ah that's some big so big shoes to to fill. and And look, he's been that and more. I mean, he really has been a guy that every single time he gets on the ball, he's dangerous. He's able to do...
Speaker: Things that no other really, no no player coming off the bench can do. He's so good on one-for-one situations, but he's not afraid to just take chances. He's going to take a shot. He's going to take a shot mid-range. He's going take a shot off of a dribble.
Speaker: And those things... end up in good situations. The balls he puts into the 18, not every single one is going to go his way, but the ones he has put with the right pace, the right form at the right moment, it leads to big games. So for me, the way he rises his game to the occasion, the way he creates moments, that's the things that are starting to make me feel like Seba Gomez is It's the real thing. Just like you, there was a moment where I was like, you know what? He's plateaued. He's okay. in in In training, I'll say this. In training, he's good, but I've seen better players on the training ground. But then I've also seen those players who are better on the training ground
Speaker: not be half as productive as he is on game day. So he's one of those guys that's ready to play. He's going to rise above the occasion. He's going to be the biggest, strongest, best version of himself on the games.
Speaker: And man, that to me is worth a whole lot. So look, Seba Gomez honestly has slowly but surely become a guy that you can depend on. You know what you're going to get. You know that he's a guy that, look, you could start or you can bring him off the bench. He's going to give you the same type of productivity, same type of engagement. You can be sure that he's going to, at the very least, stretch out a defense, ah make that that defense collapse, be able to be a guy that...
Speaker: whether it's on the ball or with off ball movements, be a real handful. So that is credit to the Sounders, the Academy, the pipeline that they've created to build this sort of players. So, man, I mean, it is good to see this sort of thing that every single year there's always seems to be A guy that you were not expecting to be as good as they are, or or maybe you didn't see it, whether it was Paul Rothrock or Ovid Vargas or whoever. I mean, it just seems like the Sounders have created this sustainable way of just creating, elaborating. just There's a fabric of big-time players you know in the basement of the facility. Yeah, and Brian always likes to give credit the Tacoma Defiance. So often in postgame press conferences, he makes sure to shout out the staff for developing these players. But I think a big part of the reason that this keeps happening for the Sounders is that Brian Schmetzer is a guy that is going to give those players chances. There's a lot of coaches out there who just want to run out the 28 to 32-year-old players who are on a big wage time and time again, give them as many minutes as possible.
Speaker: But Brian Schmetzer really likes giving these kids opportunities. He really does reward good training and he sticks to that. And I think players of the defiance, they know that they know that there is a pathway up for them. If they play well, if they train well, they're going to get and MLS minutes. They're going to get their chance. I mean, look at Mark Bronick.
Speaker: He's a guy who's had an excellent season with the Tacoma Defiance. And he comes up and he only plays two minutes in this most recent game against Sporting KC. But he does everything asked of him. He wins some duels. He makes a crucial run that leads to that game winning goal. He brings the defense out left to allow Christian Roldan to make that cutting run, the the lung bursting run straight up the middle that Jordan Morris is able to find him on.
Speaker: and And Mark Bronick is a guy, another guy who coming into this season, you just You don't necessarily see him coming into this team and making an impact at all in any game. But Brian Schmetzer rewards the work he's put in and Mark Bronic rewards him in return. That is what's so special. I think about this Sounders culture that you talk about the knowledge that these players will get opportunities if they earn them.
Speaker: yeah Look, not so much a young guy or someone like Bronick that kind of came out of nowhere, but this whole topic about players coming in and creating this real true competition.
Speaker: It's a real topic right now, especially knowing that you talked about two minutes of Browning coming in. Well, Yemar Gomez Andrade came for like eight, and he was phenomenal. I mean, maybe phenomenal is a big word, but he was just relentless. He was like this freight train or this caged animal that was unleashed into the wild. And he was just going after every single ball, every single challenge. He just looked angry on the field.
Speaker: Afterward, we realized why he was so upset because Brant Schmetzer, as he loves to talk to me, he talked about my friend, Yamer Gomez Andrade, being upset at him because he hasn't gotten enough minutes. He hasn't been able to do this, that, or the other.
Speaker: Look, Yammer is a competitive guy, and he is as competitive on the field as he is playing checkers or chess or tic-tac-toe. I mean, that guy wants to be the best at whatever he does. And so it leads to our next segment.
Speaker: Guys out there, J.O., Adam, the starting 11 is going be amazing. a real conversation. And maybe we could talk about this before the New England game because we can kind of lead to that, figuring out the guys that are potentially going to be available for this game or moving forward, what the best 11 looks like. Because look, Jesus is supposed to be ready and available for this New England game.
Speaker: I would expect Yamar to start this game, but I mean, maybe that's a real question. I mean, is it going to be Jackson and Stu? Is it going to be Stu and Yamar? I mean, there's some real questions out there about this starting 11 and, um,
Speaker: To everyone who was maybe thinking that we were, i don't know, cheerleaders or we're selling this team too high. Look, that's the reality. This team is on a real run. They're seventh place. They have a game in hand. And now they're getting players that are obviously going to make your team better. Deku hasn't even been here for three games. We forget about that so quickly. Yeah. Joe Vluch hasn't been here. Your DP, the guy that you went and spent six million bucks on, the guy that is easily one of the most productive strikers in MLS, he's not even here.
Speaker: And Albert's been performing. Jordan's been performing. And Christian has been in the backing of set pieces. I mean, this team's got some real, real momentum building. So... Let's talk about the 11s. Let's talk about what we would believe the best 11 could be. And look, guys out there, comment. Let us know what your best 11 is. Who do you think or where are the biggest positional battles? Let us know as we continue to talk about this segment. But Adam, I mean, look, you've kind of talked about it.
Speaker: You've mentioned Seba Gomez. ah You and I have sat here and talked about who's going to be the partner next to Christian Roldan. I think you and I might disagree on who should be starting at center back. So you know what?
Speaker: Let's make it happen. Let's make it clear. Let us know what your best 11 is moving forward. So Nico, I think that when it comes down to it, we have very similar starting 11s. I think I'm a lot closer on a lot of these positions switching than you are.
Speaker: It's tough because Stuart Hawkins, I think that was probably his, maybe his worst performance of this run in this last game. He wasn't incredible against sporting Kansas City. There were some moments where he gave it away off the dribble or off of a pass that wasn't there. And he looked a little bit against it in the first 45. I think Stu Hawkins, if he had continued on the trajectory that he had had for a lot of this run, would earn himself a starting role right now.
Speaker: It's really tough to say if that should be over ah Yamar or over Jackson Reagan, because there's a few of these games where you could really say, hey, Stu Hawkins has maybe been a little sharper than Jackson and they have a similar outlook.
Speaker: Yamar is this different kind of center back. As you said, he's just a destroyer. He completely takes over games. He brings something that neither Stu Hawkins or Jackson Reagan brings to ah a back pairing.
Speaker: So if he's healthy and he's, I believe, healthy at this point, I'm sure he would say that he's at 100% and ready to go. I think he's been saying that probably for a few matches now to Brian Schmetzer. Brian has been bringing up the fact that Yamar's at my door. He's asking for more minutes.
Speaker: I think Yamar is going to get those minutes and he deserves those minutes, but he is not safe. This is what I think the big headline, one of them from Brian Schmetzer after the game, saying that you know when I stole your question and I asked what the the biggest ah headaches are right now with the with the rotations and the positional battles, he said that no one's position is safe right now.
Speaker: I don't think that's true. I think he's maybe playing that up a little bit for the players. Day on is going to be starting at the nine CR seven is going to be starting in the position. He always starts in knew who has always been where he's been. Those guys aren't moving around, but there is a lot of positions where it could go one way or the other center backs. One of them. I do think that they stick with Jackson, Reagan, Yamar,
Speaker: now that it's back but that is not set that can absolutely change between now and the end of the regular season Stu Hawkins can earn himself that role sure when it comes to the wings bringing Jesus Ferreira back he was on a really nice run of form before he went down he's had some down moments in his time with the Sounders sure and he's also had some times when he was performing really well in a different position he was playing in kind of that Albert Rusnak role for a lot of time and he was doing excellent for a good stretch of games in that position.
Speaker: He should be coming back and playing on the wing to start matches. However, I think what you have in Seba Gomez right now needs to be used. And although he's been playing so well that you want to say like, oh, he's been playing so well, he' should be getting starts. I don't think he should be getting starts.
Speaker: He is perfect for that spark plug role. Come on in the 60th minute. Come on in the 70th minute. Come on at halftime if you're really struggling to create something on the attack. That is where his skill set is most used.
Speaker: So it's not a starting role, but it's a locked up rotational role for Seba Gomez right now. That is a guy you're bringing on in the second half, especially when you need to go and get a goal. As far as the starter goes starter goes, Jesus Ferreira should be getting the start, I think, against New England to get him back into form and get him back into the game. Because I think if you get him going on the left side, Jordan Morris has been so, so good on the right.
Speaker: I think you stick with that. I know both those players have kind of switched between those wings before and Jordan can also play the nine. But with Dayon coming back, you have to put Dayon at the nine. What this allows you, though, is you have so much depth on that front three.
Speaker: that you can move those wide players to different roles. You can bring on a more defensive-minded winger. You can bring on someone like Peter Kingston can play on the wide area, both attacking and defensively. Paul Areola can play on the wing, both attacking and defensively. And you can shift Jordan Morris to the nine position.
Speaker: If you want to bring Deion out of a game, maybe you're protecting a lead and you don't necessarily want to keep Jovolech on for a complete match. You have so much flexibility. It's strange to think about a month ago,
Speaker: when we weren't even sure this team had the talent to put out an 11 that we could be confident about. And it now it feels like we have maybe one and a half, maybe even two full starting 11s that I think are playoff level MLS teams. So although I think our best 11s are very similar, I think that it is so close in some of these position battles.
Speaker: And over the next three games, it can just flip completely over who should be getting those starts. So go ahead and and just break it down for me again. You're starting 11, the formation, just so everyone kind of knows exactly what that is Yeah, we've got it on the screen right here. Of course, New Who on the left. The middle two, I want Jackson and Yamar starting against New England, and I want to see that come back to the pairing that we know it can be.
Speaker: Alex Roldan. I know b Brian Schmetzer has been trying him at center back. That was partially because of the ah the substitutions that he had to make with injuries. He started to put Alex sometimes in that center back role during games again. I just don't like Alex Roldan at center back. Yeah. I know he has the ability to play that position and that's part of his value is that he can play across the back line.
Speaker: But I love him at fullback. The balls that he puts into the middle, his crosses, his runs, his ability to get up the field is so good. I think that's where his distribution is strongest.
Speaker: Brian's idea of putting him at center back. A lot of it is because he knows he's confident on the ball. He doesn't look as confident on the ball in the center of the field. He had some bad giveaways in that winless run when he was put at center back.
Speaker: I wasn't convinced by him at center back. Stick him out at fullback. Do not move him to center back. You have depth now with Stuart Hawkins. Keep Alex on the wing. Now, the real question is who's going playing alongside see our seven. who Who's going to be that guy right next to rolled on.
Speaker: Right now, for me, it's Hassani. If you asked me that a week ago, i might have said Peter Kingston. If you asked me that three weeks ago, I might have said Snyder Brunel. That could be anybody right now. I really want it to be Snyder Brunel because I think he brings an X factor.
Speaker: Hassani Dotson is a good player. He had a great game against Minnesota, and he's someone who, in theory, you know is just going to go out there and be a professional, be gritty, and get a result, especially be good on the defensive end.
Speaker: I want a Snyder Brunel to have the level of confidence and the level of form that he has had this season to get those starting roles. It's not there for Snyder right now. He is really big I would agree.
Speaker: He's just, hasn't looked like himself. I'd say for the last month or so, he looks like he's second guessing himself. There's so many times when he receives the ball and Snyder Brunel back in April goes on a run forward or plays the ball forward. And Snyder Brunel now turns around and plays it back to to Stuart Hawkins or or plays it over to Jackson Reagan.
Speaker: It's not what I want to see from a player like Snyder Bernal. And it's tough because I think the word that Jeremiah used at some point this season is that he's been so snake bitten this year. He really could have had several goals this season, several more goal contributions this year. And one thing's gone a little bit wrong for him in one moment. Another thing's gone wrong for him in another. And it just hasn't come out for him. I think if a couple of those things swing his way, he's feeling a lot more confident and he is absolutely that locked up player in that position.
Speaker: Right now, Hassani is coming off a great game. Hassani Dotson needs to be starting. But once again, that can be taken away quickly. And that's also a position that I think during a game is going to get rotated. You're going to see Snyder Brunel come in off the bench. You're going to see a Peter Kingston come in off the bench. Hassani Dotson is a good player to start matches. I don't necessarily think he's the answer at that position.
Speaker: Jordan on the right. For me, that's just you have to stick with what's been working and Jordan on the right side, being able to shift more inside and break down a back line, make those runs in. He frees up so much space. You have to keep him out there on the right. Albert Rusnak, this is some of the best form we've seen Albert Rusnak in as a sounder, and it's gone so underappreciated.
Speaker: He is so confident in the middle quarterbacking the offense. He sees everything. He's patient. He lets the runs develop. He's absolutely there. That's 100%. You know, that's one of those things where Brian says, oh, no position is safe. That position is safe. Albert is going to be there as long as he's healthy.
Speaker: And Jesus Ferreira on the left side, that is where you want Jesus Ferreira, but he's got to prove it. It's been a while. he is not locked up in that position at all. You have Caden Clark back there. You have Seba Gomez back there. You have several players who can take that starting role. There's going be a lot of pressure on Jesus Ferreira. Very interested to see...
Speaker: how he performs in these upcoming games. You have to keep your eyes on Jesus. You have to keep your eyes on Hassani. You have to keep your eyes on the center backs. That is where I'm sure Brian Schmetzer is going to be watching and thinking, is this the player that's going to take me into the playoffs in this position?
Speaker: That's where it's going to change. And Daniel Vlitch at the nine, that's the easiest decision you're ever going to make. He's one of the best nines in the league. um Having him back, like you talked about, the fact that he hasn't been in the lineup and the offense has been playing how it is says so much about this team, the depth of this team, the mentality of this team. It's going to be fun to have Day on in the mix with all these players in form, though. I think it's going to be scary for defenses to come up against.
Speaker: Yeah, Dejan is obviously one of those positions that you got to tell Brian, who are you lying to? Like, there are some positions that are 100% secure. And I think Dejan Jovulic is one of those positions. But look, as much as we love Adam, because look, he is as smooth as butter, as smooth and comforting as a silk sheet on a summer night. I mean, there's not a lot that I'm going disagree with there.
Speaker: Backline. I think that there's no other forward that I could think of. I mean, Nuhu, as much as some might not believe so, he's been really, really good.
Speaker: Not just defending, but I feel like he's been doing a good job at pushing his line when he has to, being able to get on the ball. Not every time that he gets on the ball and breaks breaks line with the ball is going to end up on a great chance.
Speaker: I think he's done a good job at being able to just – hold himself from taking a weird shot or putting the back cross. And as he's just dropping it back and and extending the possession. So I think new has been really good.
Speaker: The center backs for me, there's just no other role than Reagan and, and, and Yammer. I mean, those are your two experienced guys. I love Stu. And I think Stu is really biting at the heels of one Jackson Reagan. Cause he,
Speaker: has the passing ability. He has the understanding of the game. He has looked very physical so far. I don't think that I've looked at any game and be like, oh, Stu can't really compete when it comes to the physical aspect. Look, he understands how to drop his body a bit. He has a strong center of gravity. He might not look like the biggest guy, but he's been at the gym working hard. So he has those components to be a real strong contender to take Jackson's spot because he could do Jackson's level stuff, but with more recovery speed and ah more dynamism. And that's important for a team like the Sounders. Now, Yammer, there's no one like him in this roster, so he's got to stay on. And Alex, I'm with you.
Speaker: Alex could do it all, right? He could play a little center back, play a little CM, maybe push him higher up the field if you wanted to. But him at right back for this system, is what you need.
Speaker: His balance, his understanding of the game, his two-way system, defending, attacking, and his service is coming off that right side. And that goes into probably the biggest thing that I don't agree with you in terms of that three-man back line behind Joe Vlitch. Because look, I'm with you on Dotson and Christian. I want Dotson and I want Christian for two reasons. Number one, if I'm going to want this Sounders team to be a problem in the playoffs. I want to harness what's been working.
Speaker: And Christian Roldan, as much as he's a six, he's been so good on offense and so productive on set pieces, just finding the back of the net and being a guy that can, you know, pass guys through, slip them through, but also be able to take a shot or, you know, have that relentless run as he did in that 2-1 win over Sporting Garden City. So to me, setting him up with a guy like Hassani, that is a safer bet.
Speaker: that's going to allow him to get more free, to release him, if you will, to create some overloads on that side, seems like the best bet right now.
Speaker: Hassani has the physicality. I want him to be a lot better when he comes to certain moments tracking back players and his recovery moments. I want that more of Hassani, but I feel like he has all the attributes to do so. Whereas of Peter Kingston or um a guy like Snyder Burnell, I just I'm not sure if that's what they do best. And yes, Snyder is really good at creating moments. He's so creative and could do a lot of things, but I'd rather...
Speaker: have Christian next to a guy that's going to allow him to be more free rather than the opposite. So I like that ability to just have a guy like standing right next to him. But where we disagree is I want Jesus on the right side because in this brand smut system where,
Speaker: Alex Rodan gets forward and kind of becomes another attacker and it pushes Jesus Ferreira into that dual 10 that, you know, Brian tried to sell us on so much this season. It works sometimes. It really did. yeah I think that if you look back to last season, you look back to the start of this season, you're,
Speaker: you can see where Jesus Ferreira just fits the bill. He has the the freedom to be creative in that pocket. He can slip guys through. He's a phenomenal passer. He's really good with mid-range shots. When he tries to take them, he needs to do that a lot more. But just his understanding of the game, of the dual 10 position, to me, just fits better for him. And Jordan Morris, to his attributes, he's been so...
Speaker: hard to defend. He's been so good at giving us that vintage Jordan Morris that we love to see where he's trying to push through, just be a handful, get into the end line.
Speaker: Jeremiah and I have talked about how good he is just crossing the ball with his left foot. His service is usually pretty good and he takes the right decisions because of his experience in the game. So to me, i want to see Jordan have a guy like Nuhu behind him where he's going to be more pin back, more anchor back, give him more defensive defense.
Speaker: containment, and then Jordan can focus more on the offensive side, whereas of Jesus Ferreira, who's really good at pressing, really good at having defending moments. He doesn't mind dropping back and doing that extra work next to a guy like Alex Jordan, where they can kind of give you that one-two punch. They could almost exchange certain responsibilities. I really like the way that functions and the way that it's worked in the past.
Speaker: But beyond that, obviously Jovulic is going to give you what you had last season. or at the beginning of the season with a real threat at the nine, a real guy that can make things happen. So I like continuity.
Speaker: Call me old-fashioned. Call me boring. I just like to kind of go with what's been working. And when you had a formation that worked at one point and you give it – steroids shot, like, ah you know, Joe village, Hey, sign me up every single day for that.
Speaker: Yeah. I'm looking over at the comments right now. A couple of questions is if Yamar is going to be on minister restrictions, Jeremiah, you could probably speak to where you think Yamar is going to ah be sitting, coming back into this line. I'm getting readjusted.
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Speaker: I do think you're probably right that he is. um Sorry there. ah He's probably going to be on a minutes restriction. I think that that's a good baseline. would have, you know, he's only played one game.
Speaker: where he got eight minutes and that's since March. I think he's probably two or three games away from being able to play 90 minutes.
Speaker: If he's able to do 90 minutes when the Sounders are back at home against Montreal, I would think that's probably about what we can expect. But I do think he, he was like you said, he was a freight train in that, in that game against sporting Kansas city. He, he must've won five headers.
Speaker: It was, it was real refreshing to see that sort of ah aerial dominance. We have not seen a lot of that this year in large part because. Marges hasn't been there.
Speaker: So it was, it was really a good reminder that this is a ah kind of physical defender. The sounders have really not had this year. ah And i like Stu Hawkins a lot.
Speaker: I think he has a lot of potential. I think there's a world where he is a starter next year. But if Yamar is back to full fitness, fully fully back in, i think he's your starter.
Speaker: And then, i i you know, what's funny is that for all the... The consternation over, well, who is our best 11? I have to admit, like, i mean, you guys had one difference and it was which side of the field.
Speaker: Hey, Susan Jordan were on I'm looking at it and I don't know that I have any, any different differentiating ah opinions. Like, I think I would love it if Snyder Brunel was the starter. I don't think we've seen that for the last few months.
Speaker: I like him a lot. I hope he continues to get minutes, but I do think that Hassani Dodson is the, ah the higher floor player. And he, I think he's also ah come in and done a good job.
Speaker: So I don't really, you know, we can quibble on which side of the field we want to see Jesus and Jordan on, but I think it's the lineup is sort of writing itself right now because coming into this season. And what's funny is that it's very similar to what we saw at the beginning of the season.
Speaker: with the exception that Pedro is out of the picture, Paul is out of the picture. so the the you know But I suppose you can make an argument that maybe Areola deserves more minutes. the The more interesting thing to me is going to be how Brian manages his reserve minutes because I think the the starting lineup,
Speaker: kind of writes itself right now. If everyone's fit and healthy, Yamar, you know, may or may not start. Hey, Seuss obviously is not going to start against new England, but he's going to where he's supposed to play.
Speaker: So that's, that's maybe a more interesting discussion for me going down the line is who's who, you know, like we just did a poll on the, on the YouTube channel about should Sibagum was continued to get significant minutes and 69% said, yes, I, I understand where they're coming from.
Speaker: But I do think we got to kind of run the numbers. I mean, Paul Areola is going to have to get some minutes. Seba Gomez is going to have to get some minutes. ah You know, at some point, Paul Rothrock might have to get some minutes.
Speaker: It's going to get pretty, pretty crowded in there. Yeah. And I was also as I was putting together starting 11, was thinking to myself, like, like you said, Jeremiah, that doesn't tell the story.
Speaker: of of where this team is finding itself because it's really finding itself in those reserve minutes, especially on the wings. And I also do want to talk to you about this, Nico, of where you think those winger minutes are going to go. Because like Jeremiah said, you got Paul Areola in there. sure Paul Rothrock probably gonna be back around playoff time. Knowing Paul, I'm sure he's going to push to get that done.
Speaker: And you have Caden Clark in there who Brian's been giving consistent minutes to. He's been training very well. you have an abundance of options. you have too many options. You don't have enough minutes for everybody. So ah Nico, who do you think those first players who maybe fall to a third string are? and Who do you think those players who you absolutely need to be getting off the bench are?
Speaker: Paul Arriola to me has to be your first sub. If you need another player out of white play, regardless of, and the great thing about Paul is that whether you want to play him at a three center back system as a wing back or you want to play him higher up the field as a winger, he could do both roles. And he's like gold dangerous. He has experience. He's one of the guys that has character, that has what in Spanish as we call factor H. He has the
Speaker: stones to do a lot of stuff that not a lot of players are willing to do. Take the yellow card, pull somebody. he He's my size, which is wild. You know, obviously a lot leaner, a lot better looking, but you know, he's like, you know, my height, but still he, he just does everything right. He is fearless. i mean, he goes into every challenge. I absolutely love what Paul Arreola brings. And if it wasn't because Paul, ah because Jesus Ferrer is coming back, I would think that he's a starter out wide for this team. So,
Speaker: He's one of those guys that I really want in. And it's funny because I got to give ah It's Danicus a shout because he says, Nico, I respect you, but what world are you living in where Nuhu stays back and just defends? He wants to get forward more than our attack in Bandus. And look, that's true because I know that Heath has also been...
Speaker: pushing and endorsing Paul Arreola playing that left back position. And that that's good. I mean, i I don't mind Paul playing the position, but the specialized trade of just locking down that side, that's a Nuhu trade, man. So i'm I'm sorry we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I think that Nuhu And you might not give him credit for, but you look at some of his passing, the way he's switching the ball, some of the balls he's put into the 18, he's gotten a lot better. His decision-making particularly has been a lot better. So I got to give Nuhu credit.
Speaker: I don't mind him staying there. But to your question, Adam, to me, first guy off the bench, if I need wide play, unless it's a game where maybe I need to – really get a couple of goals back and I know that Seba's going to come in and you know, give me maybe a better way to distribute the amount of effort that goes into the defense so he stretches it out. Maybe I'll go Seba, but look, if I need a goal, if I need a guy that's going to come in and create leadership and really take the game over, I still like Paul Arriola better than Caden, who I like a lot, and Seba, who I'm starting to really feel like he's
Speaker: you know, earn himself the number one position coming off the bench. I have to disagree with you, Nico. I think that Paul Ariel is a great player um and he's a great leader. As you say, he's a guy who's going to come off the bench and he's immediately going to provide that experience. He's had some really good games over the last few matches.
Speaker: It just, it's not that X factor. It's Seba Gomez has been just eye popping. He comes off the bench and I'm like, something's going happen right now. When Paul Areola comes off the bench, I know he's probably going to put in a good shift, but I don't look at him as someone who's going to change a game, put a defense on its heels. I think Paul Areola is more the player you want to bring in off the bench in a game that you're defending a lead or trying to hold on ah and to a draw or you're against a team maybe that's pressing you higher and you're on the back foot. You know you're going to stay on the back foot. That's the kind of game where I want Paul Areola.
Speaker: But I mean, to be honest, that's not the kind of game ah the Sounders want to find themselves in. They want to find themselves in a game where they're pushing the issue when they're going on the attack. And Seba Gomez has created that.
Speaker: I think he is absolutely the first player off the bench. As I said, I think he should be written in pen as 60th minute substitution in and around there. unless you're like defending a two goal lead or something like that. But you should absolutely be putting him in and giving him as many minutes as he can right now. He is perhaps the most informed player behind only Jordan Morris on this squad and maybe Albert Rusnak, although that's obviously a different role playing down the middle.
Speaker: He's a guy that I think you absolutely need to be getting off the bench. I think Paul Areola and Caden Clark are a little unfortunate right now where They're very quality players. um And Paul Ariola not only is a quality player, but he's been in form.
Speaker: I think he starts to maybe lose minutes, even though he is in that good form, because I just love what I've seen from Seba Gomez. I can't say that enough. um I think Caden Clark. It's interesting with Caden Clark, because we talk about this.
Speaker: He glides around the pitch. you know He's so quick and he's so effortlessly quick. And when he gets on the ball, especially in a transition moment or a more chaotic moment, I love what I see from Caden Clark.
Speaker: He just hasn't been very involved when he's been on the pitch. He's been getting starts from Brian Schmetzer and it just seems like he's not getting on the ball. And I don't know if that's, you know, they're favoring the side with Jordan on it, or Albert is trying to go more direct up the middle. But even when a player like, like Danny Mazovsky playing the nine, the last couple of games, he's only getting 10 touches a half.
Speaker: And even then Caden Clark still isn't all that involved when he gets on the ball. I love what I see from him. He makes good runs. He connects well with players, which is impressive considering he's only been here a few weeks.
Speaker: Um, I like what I see out of Caden Clark as a wild card. You're down two late on a game. I mean, the Colorado game, that was perfect for Caden Clark to come into. They needed to stir up chaos in that game. They throw Caden Clark in, and that's exactly what he does. He scores from distance out of nothing.
Speaker: That's where Caden Clark is very valuable to this team. That's not necessarily something you want to be seeing every single game. I think he's a bit of a trump card, a bit of ah an ace in the back pocket.
Speaker: Brian Schmetzer pulls out if he really needs to just throw everything forward and get attacks going. Seba Gomez right now needs to be the first option off the bench. Paul Areola, I think, is more valuable as a starter than Seba Gomez is. But when we talk about Jesus Ferreira coming back and probably being that number one starter, I think that gives the nod to Seba Gomez coming on in the 60th, 70th minute and trying to change a game.
Speaker: Jail, the the the horrible thing about food for thought is that if nobody's hungry, it's just going to sit on the fridge, right? and And the reality is that we're talking about a lot of speculation when, look, to be honest, if it was me and I needed, it depends, right? You're just chasing a game, you're doing that, you're doing the other. ah to To me, if I got to make a change, if I'm chasing my game, I'm pulling Albert off, I'm moving Jesus at the 10, and then I'm pushing in a wide player. But in terms of just the exercise, right?
Speaker: who's your first guy off the bench to play the wide play? Because I know that we've forgotten about at least one guy who I know you love in Kalani Kosorienzi being a guy that could also come off the bench to, you know, whether it is to play a right back, which I don't think you'll see more minutes of now that you aim or be back. But, you know, in those wide channels where he's so athletic, he's so aggressive, he, you know, gets behind ah defenders ah pretty consistently.
Speaker: You got, Caden, you got ah a real on my pick. You got Seba Adams pick, you know, who's your guy coming off the bench? You know, you know, it's funny is that we didn't even mention Peter Kingston as an option. I'm a little surprised. I kind of spaced on ah that option as well, which again is just to say that the, the sounders are, are suddenly going to be,
Speaker: embarrassed for option. You know, they, they have more options than they, than they can get on the field. I think it's going to really depend on what they are looking for from that, ah from that moment, whatever it might be. i do think Kalani is going to continue to get minutes, but I suspect Kalani will mostly get minutes when, you know, like they did, I believe they did this on Saturday, on Thursday where they pulled Stu off the field.
Speaker: They moved, rolled on back into center back and they brought Kalani in to play right back just to give them a little bit more passing, a little bit more of an attack ah it's ah It's a different look.
Speaker: And I think we'll probably continue to see some of that. i also think that, ah you know, we're going to see. i think Caden has a creativity about him that's a little bit different.
Speaker: I agree. he hasn't done as much with his moments as i would have liked the goal aside, but he hasn't gotten on the ball quite enough. So I guess my answer is a little bit of a cop-out, which is to say, i think it's going to depend.
Speaker: i do think that Areola, to me, is the player that probably has Brian's trust the most. he he I feel like he is a Brian type of player. But I also think there's going to be... you know like One of the stats that jumped out to me looking at the Seba Gomez thing is that he's leading the Sounders in attempted and successful dribbles per 90.
Speaker: which is something they really lost last year when they when they traded Jorge Manugu, when Pedro de la Vega got hurt. So Gomez is someone who provides a on-the-ball attacking a variable that they oftentimes lack. And he's earning Ryan's trust without a doubt. So, yeah, I totally agree. But maybe we can push this through and and start looking at the game ahead and what the New England Revolution will essentially challenge this team with. Because as we've said before, there's the big parameter for what the Sounders want to do. I will take this time, though, to say that I really appreciate everyone that's on right now live. In order to incentivize you guys to watch Next Monday live.
Speaker: I am going to do this without Jeremiah knowing at all. He's just hearing this for the very first time. Next Monday, anybody who comments on this show live, I am going try to figure out how we can keep track of those comments. And I'm going to raffle a Yammer Gomez and dry the game Jersey signed by Yammer Gomez and dry day for you guys to have. So if you guys like, you know, to have that sort of, uh, what's the word for it again?
Speaker: Incentive. Uh, no, the, the sports, uh, Discourse? You know, the things that are that like sports memorabilia. Memorabilia. If you like memorabilia, that would be a really good you know item, right? It's ah it's a game-worn jersey. It is a signed jersey. So if you you know want to get on that, we're going to go ahead and raffle that for everybody who comments next Monday on this same show.
Speaker: Your money where your mouth is. That's right, baby. That's right. We're getting down with it. But New England, difficult game on the road. This is a team that's getting some guys back.
Speaker: I'm guessing by the time that this game plays, some of their, you know, USMNT call-ups, they're a team that is on the rise. This is a place where the Sounders have not been extremely successful at.
Speaker: I believe that the New England Revolution have won four games. The Sounders have drew once and then lost one in Foxborough. So difficult venue to play in.
Speaker: Adam, him what are your thoughts on difficult game against a very high paced team? They want to get on um a run race with their teams. They play with a very high line of confrontation. If I saw anything against RSL against a team that yes, New England didn't have all their best players, but the concepts were there.
Speaker: They play very high with their line. So, RSL, they beat them 3-0 in a probably unlikely game, but a lot of those goals came in transition. They came being able to get their striker behind that high line of defenders.
Speaker: The Sounders, they have that. They have Joe Vujic, they have Jordan Morris. They have various ways to maybe exploit those deficiencies. What are your thoughts on that game, man? I think this is exactly the game the Sounders needed right now to truly test themselves, especially because the fact that this is the team that's goingnna be pressing high up.
Speaker: That's been what I've been worried about with the Sounders is can they play a team that is one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference by points right now and is also going to press you from start to finish confidently and a team that's going to press anyone they come against confidently.
Speaker: Because the Sounders, as we've said before, they've had trouble building out of the back. And Brian Schmetzer does want to get some building out of the back when possible. If the Seattle Sounders show in this game that they are truly flabbergasted by a team that is going to push everything at them and they can't confidently get it from Alex Roldan, ahead towards a Jordan Morris, towards an Albert Rusnak,
Speaker: if If that's the theme, then we kind of know that this squad is lacking something when it comes to playing against the elite of the elite. If they're able to find a way to either break that press confidently or do what they did in the second half against Sporting KC, which is just make a change, go more direct, turn the defense around.
Speaker: If they can find success in one of those two ways, that's when you can start to say that this is a Sounders team that everyone in the league needs to be looking out for come playoff time. It's going to be a very tough game.
Speaker: It's so strange looking at this game they played against Real Salt Lake, a team in dreadful form yeah coming into that match. And Real Salt Lake beat bait them three zero they As you said, they played to their strengths perfectly. They played on the counterattack and they found their moments. They created a lot of opportunities. It was not a cheap three goals. They absolutely earned that result.
Speaker: I think the bigger story for Real Salt Lake is also keeping the zero on the other end for New England. This is a New England team that has been very Jekyll and Hyde. They've had great, great runs of form, great, great games. And they've had games where it's really fallen apart for them like it did against ah RSL.
Speaker: This is the exact kind of match the Sounders are going to have to win down the stretch to really establish themselves. This is exactly the team that I want them facing coming off of this unbeaten run, coming off of this winning streak to truly test their mettle.
Speaker: I honestly, I don't necessarily think we're favored on the road here. I think even if we don't win this game, a lot of it's going to come down to what we see in those moments of breaking the press of getting a defense turned around. You're going to be looking for the little things in this game for the Seattle Sounders. Even if they don't get three points, there's a lot of little victories they could get out of a match like this.
Speaker: Yeah, look, ah if there's anything Marko Mastrović has been able to do with this New England Revolution team is just play to their – to player strengths. And I think he has not unlocked, because he's always been really good, but he has done a good job at utilizing this version of – He'll in a way that he can perform well for this team. He's done a great job at adding gas dog into the offense. A guy that, you know, can create, can push, can be a bit of a threat inside the box, but doesn't necessarily have a role as just a striker. i think that tournament has been really good for this team as a guy that gives them a target type role.
Speaker: forward so there it's a lot of ways that they attack right Peyton Miller iss being a guy that has so much speed that can just you know beat you down the line with with so much quickness and look to be quite honest that can be something that this Sounders team regardless of who that back line of four is they're gonna be very careful I'm curious of what Yammer looks like going 90 minutes or a starting, let's say, if he goes this game as a starter, you know, it's kind of like a cold turkey, you know, type of start, right? He hasn't had a lot of minutes. And if it's not him, then if it is to, and Reagan. So this is going to be one of those games that is going to push you both defensively and offensively because this is a very well-coached team at a difficult setting.
Speaker: It is going to be a lot about can the Sounders be a better possession team? Can they protect themselves with the ball a lot better? Can they extend certain possessions?
Speaker: And can a guy like Joe Vlis come in and pick up where he left off? The beautiful thing about when he left is that he left on a good note. He left scoring for this team again. And so can he come back and do that for this squad? Because, look, without having that finisher, that clinical guy up at the nine,
Speaker: this team is going to have some issues against New England. But if you're able to get an early goal, really press them, really be able to challenge their center bags, I wouldn't mind saying that the Sounders can get a result in New England.
Speaker: i don't want to venture and say they're going to get a win, but I think that, you know, a good, well-thought 1-1 draw, you know, can could be a very good first, strong step into the next part of this road games. Yeah. And I heard what you guys were talking about on Friday about this road trip. i Jeremiah, I believe you said that getting, it was at one point or two points that you wouldn't be like extremely upset with it. Cause it is a couple of tough road games. I really want to see the Sounders come out and win one of these games. I think they can win one of these games.
Speaker: And if they don't win one of these two games, or at least put in a very good performance, it's it's worrying and I really want to take a look in this game is if day on Jovo Lich is involved in the match I think it could get to a point where as you said Nico if possession isn't there he gets very isolated at the top of the formation if they can get down you over it touches against a quality squad that is a sign that you can beat any team but Jeremiah yeah going back to the to the road trip here I'd like to see them get three points on this road trip if possible how likely that is I'd like to hear your opinion on that but I think they can do I think they you know i would Yeah. You know, I would say that the, uh, the target has to be two points. Like you need to either get results in both games or you need to win one of them. And I think anything less than that is, is gotta be considered a disappointment.
Speaker: If you go over to, if you get, if you lose both of these games, the momentum that you had is gone now that it doesn't mean that the season is over, it, If you were really hoping to ride momentum into like a charge up the standings, you can't lose these two games.
Speaker: They I mean, they'll they'll still be in the playoff race, but I think we have to be realistic and we're looking at a race for the eight, nine spots. But if they can get into, you know, if they can get points out of these games, they can get, you know, two or three points out of these games.
Speaker: or even dream get four points, I suppose. I mean, I think that you really got to start looking at the five, six spot as realistic targets. LAFC is looking very ah fragile right now.
Speaker: ah There's no reason you shouldn't be able to, i mean, as it is, their game in hand on, LAFC would, would bring them even on points at at, at the six spot, the five spot, probably a little bit more of a stretch goal, but Hey,
Speaker: That would put us right. you know It would be pretty funny if the centers get into the mid 50 point wise, because that would basically be right where they are every year after this horrible run. Now I don't, I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but I do think that they they need to show that they are competitive in these games. And that means getting results.
Speaker: and Maybe a win on this road. yeah Look, if they're going to have ah a good night, there at revolution on what apparently is Marvel night is by the Sounders getting their captain America, Christian Roldan, the captain of this team had a phenomenal game because he is going to be so important when it comes to not allowing this new revolution to get on a quick transition moment whether it is with Peyton Miller or whether it Reigns is a very good passer going forward I think that the midfield battle in this specific game is to be very important so
Speaker: Obviously, for me, if when look at these two games, it's a lot easier, or at least to me, to think that they're going to get a result at Dallas than it is at New England. I just think Dallas is a more of a coin flip. I think that they're a gap year team. I feel like they match up better with what the Sounders do well on offense, as well as the things that they do well on defense. But this first game is a momentum setter. for this bit of a short road trip where I believe they're going stay on the road, Jeremiah. I think that's what I heard. I don't know how true that is, but I heard that they might stay on the road or that that's kind of what I heard from ah one of the PR staffs. I don't know if I got that correctly, but it's going to be interesting how they kind of figured this.
Speaker: Yeah, I guess I need to look at when the when the two games are. I think are they a week apart? I guess I could look at the schedule and I could, but no that's done whatever but yeah, it usually they would, it, if they're, if they're within, if they're less than a week apart,
Speaker: Oh, so yeah, they'll probably, I'm sure they'll they'll they're not going come back because they got to fly out to New England. it would be crazy to come all the way back to Seattle and then go to Dallas. So what they'll do is they'll go to New england they'll fly out to Boston on probably Thursday.
Speaker: They'll be there Friday, Saturday, and then after the game, they'll probably go to, or maybe they'll stay overnight in New England and then fly to Dallas and then they'll spend a few days in Dallas. But yeah, I would expect this to be the last time we see This week will be the last time we see them at practice until ahead of the Montreal games. That's what I heard. think they're going to one day off.
Speaker: over there in New England, and then they're going to come back and they're going to train at least one day at FC Dallas or near that location. So, so yeah, so they're they're probably going to be off for a while. So it's going to be an important first step for this team to, you know, get some more confidence to feel like, look, where we just came out and we had a good result against one of the best teams in the East, one of the teams that, you know, has some really talent, Jack Harris and, you know, Peyton Miller and all of these players. Lagoni, he's a really, really good player on the run. So, hey, this could really be a big turnaround moment.
Speaker: If we take Brian smacking sticks on ah onto the podium on the last game as any sort of feeling like he feels like this team is going to be able to get on a run, then shoot, it all starts here against New England.
Speaker: And remember, this is also three games in a week. It's New England Saturday, Dallas Wednesday, and then back home against Montreal on Saturday. So we're going to get to see that depth and that rotation. It's going to be forced ah into happening. But as you guys said before, that game at home against Montreal when they return, got to get that game, obviously. That's exactly the kind of game they had been playing in this three-game homestand where it's a team down there in the standings and you just have to you have to take care of business at home. But yeah, I think that they can, like you said, Nico, I agree that that Dallas game is much more of a coin flip.
Speaker: There's been some great games for Dallas this year, but some unconvincing ones. They barely sneak out with that win against a struggling LAFC team. ah Most recently, a game that, ah due to a VAR decision, could have gone to 1-1. I'm of the opinion that that one certainly could have gone to 1-1 and not the 1-0 Dallas win. could have. um But but yeah, I think New England, that's a really tough out.
Speaker: You're not down in the dumps. If you lose that game, it'd be great to get a result. It would be amazing to get a win. But definitely look at that Dallas game, of course, because it's one of those teams that's, you know, top four in the West.
Speaker: That's the kind of team you're going want to beat in the playoffs. That's your matchup when you come into maybe a first or second round in the playoffs where you're like, this is our statement of intent. We can knock this team off. Teams know that we're that we're really about it.
Speaker: um Nico, I did not to hurry you along here, but I did want to talk about this ah this upcoming match day in MLS because obviously we've had some games. some days off without MLS match day.
Speaker: um We've had the international break. um I just wanted to highlight real quick, myself and you just some games that will certainly be tuning into um on this MLS weekend.
Speaker: I wanted to highlight LAFC first match after the Dos Santos reign against Vancouver. That is for me easily the the match of the week, especially for a fan of the Western Conference.
Speaker: Two teams trying to, well, Vancouver getting back to some more full strength, full numbers and trying to reestablish themselves after they've dropped a few games at home that they don't want to be dropping. They're trying to show that, oh, we are the favorites in the West. This is our conference.
Speaker: Haven't necessarily shown it over the last little bit. They come up against NLAFC team. There's always that extra spark with a team that's coming off of a manager leaving. All the players know this is a chance for me to prove that I can get into this starting 11 and be part of this team for the rest of the season.
Speaker: That's going to be a fiery match between, on paper, two of the biggest contenders in the West. And no matter what, no matter where these two teams are in the standings, they both feel like they are top dogs in the division, right? In the conference. So they're going to be able to come into this game and feel that way. You have a very good defensive, well-structured team like Gaspar Soreson. And then you have a LAFC team that, as you said, new coach, new life. You got the coach bump that is usually a pretty good bet on anybody that,
Speaker: you know believes in that. And you got a couple of players like Sonny and Buonga who are coming back from international duty, hoping that they can get the team going the right direction. I absolutely believe that's going to be one of the big games. And I'll be very sure with mine, because it is in the Western Conference and it is a team that's one of them, at least, below the Sounders, and one that I think could be approachable if the Sounders get on a run here, San Jose against Colorado.
Speaker: I feel like that's going to be a very good game. San Jose, beat the brakes of a Portland. And they just, obviously, a couple of missing players for the Portland Timbers there. But San Jose, look, between Nico Shakiris and Werner and a team that just seems to know what where to put Preston Judd inside the 18 to get some really good results. I feel like, look, there's going to be a very good game. Colorado on their end, they've been very good defensively, specifically at home where they're going to play against the San Jose team. So, hey, that's the game I'm going to be watching. I'm going to be kind of rooting for maybe this game to go as a draw so neither team gets any more points. but I really do believe this is going to be a really good game. It could be a back and forth type of a game, particularly. I think that Colorado now Whitaker has just kind of changed their dynamic offensively. So Colorado, as much as they continue to press, they could be a team that is going to be fighting the whole entire way from here all the way to the decision day with the sounder. So that's a game that you won't want to miss. And,
Speaker: Moving forward, just to kind of finish here, we're in the what? Last seven minutes of the show. Let's talk some USMNT. Let's talk a little bit about what Pochettino's been able to do with, I don't know if you want to call it the prospect camp for this USMNT national team.
Speaker: I've always liked Pochettino. I thought that it was a slam dunk to sign him to an extension. and now you're seeing why. i have to give him an A-plus for the way he's managed this window from providing a level of importance and responsibility to a guy like Kevin Sullivan, to the decisions on the starting 11th, to the way that he's balanced out his teams with both teams. experience core and prospects going into it all the way to the results. Ultimately, this is what it is about being a national team coach. You don't have a lot of time to really put things together. You got little small mini camps you can put together to really get guys going. And the fact that the UNSW national team was able to put in a very young, unexperienced team,
Speaker: a team that really hasn't played with each other and go at Chile, Peru, Mexico, and get a whole bunch of wins, to me, it's phenomenal. Not to mention the fact that all of your prospects, like Julian Hall, has been great. Alberts has been great. I mean, all of these young players, they just look the part.
Speaker: So to me, Adam... It's been a great window for the Nations national team. And I can't remember the last time I was so excited about but so many different prospects for this United Nations national team moving forward. And it feels like at least four five of this, I don't know, I think it's like eight or nine first-time call-ups.
Speaker: And he feels like all of them are going to be pushing in to be part of the the the main team at some point. Yeah, I'd love to see Julian Hall come in and do what he's done all year in New York Red Bulls and and immediately make an impact. You know, the goal against Mexico, he's just there at the right place, right time, cleans up. That's what a a player like him has to do.
Speaker: He does earn that goal. Kevin Sullivan, ah same story where, you know, he's in the right place at the right time to get that goal. It's a gift a little bit. But the main story for Kevin Sullivan is that throughout this window, he looked the part. He's at the level. He is at that international level.
Speaker: And even that from a 17-year-old, that's ridiculous. That's that's unheard of. It is really incredible what Kevin Sullivan has done. I love that he was able to have that moment against Mexico.
Speaker: I think my main story for the international window here for the United States is Sebastian Berhalter. He has looked so good. And he's carrying that over from the World Cup.
Speaker: um I remember the day after the U.S. was eliminated by Belgium. um I work in a bakery not too far from the stadium. And at about 9 a.m. the day after that loss, Sebastian Berhalter walks into the bakery.
Speaker: um And I assume he's getting a ah box of pastries for for the for the rest of the team. And I i i mean, this is going to sound biased, but he's just he's just a positive force. He's just a nice person. He's a good guy. And he looks forward with with a lot of optimism.
Speaker: And he's one of those people where you know he's going to be a leader. on this team for years to come. Once he gets into that maturity and he gets more caps, he was so good off the bench in the world cup. I think he was maybe one of the only bright spots in that loss against Belgium for the USA in the world cup.
Speaker: And a few times off the bench, he looked really good. He's earning these starts. Uh, he's earning the trust of Maurizio Pochettino. I want him to be a guy come that next World Cup that is just anchoring a squad that you know is going to come out and have the exact same level of fire that he always has, the exact same leadership that he always has, and he's going to be able to pop up in big matches. This is really the window where I...
Speaker: thought that, yes, this is Sebastian Berhalter's place. This is where he should be. He should always be in these call-ups, especially for competitive matches. So glad he's able to go to Europe and do what he's been doing. He's been ah having a great time over in Europe after coming over from Vancouver.
Speaker: That was my main takeaway from the window. Obviously, Kevin Sullivan is all of the headlines, but Sebastian Berhalter, he is going to be so crucial to the setup for years to come. My main takeaway is...
Speaker: And this going hurt people because I'm going to swallow my pride here. ah But Gio Reyna's back. Gio Reyna looked like the guy that we were all hoping he was at one point with Dortmund. And, we you know, this was one of the best prospects this team has ever had. He has looked good. Three consecutive starts, has been creative, has been dangerous, great on his delivery into the box, has really been pushing – Something that I never really saw from his game, which was just being a little bit unselfish, both on the ball and off the ball. Gio Reyna has really looked like a guy that can take a starting position for this team because, you know, in the way in the system Pochettino likes to play and he wants to have another creative player in that final third. He could definitely be a guy that's very free, that you know has a really good level of a mid-race shot. So I agree with you in terms of Berhalter, who I absolutely love. Love his set pieces. Love everything that he does. But to me, Gio Reyna has been a guy that
Speaker: really took advantage of this window to solidify himself or cement himself as potentially one of the starting 11. J.O., anything that that you have looked at and and had any big takes away from what Pochettino's been able to do in this window that still has one more game left against Canada, but obviously, you know, three games gone, three wins...
Speaker: I think the thing that has been really refreshing about this window for the United States is that there's this real positive energy. And I was worried that the momentum was going to be lost after the after the loss to Belgium because of how bad it was. It just felt like it sucked all the positive vibes out of the U.S. national team. And you just look at the crowds that they've been getting for these games.
Speaker: They've been either sold out or close to sold out. It just feels like there was not as big of a drop-off as it felt like it was inevitable to me. And so I think from the fan base perspective, but I think the injection of all these young guys into the rotation, it just feels like it's this natural continuum from, oh this was because this was the golden generation. We were told that just played at the World Cup that this was that was that it was all building up to 2026 and that they they, you know, they showed moments. They had the great group stage.
Speaker: But ultimately, it it felt like it ended in a down on a down note. And then for them to just sort of pick back up with another generation of even more exciting players. I said on Blue Sky, kind I don't think I've ever been more excited about a U.S. national team player than I have been about Kevin Sullivan.
Speaker: This is a player who looks like he is the real deal. I was very skeptical of him as recently as six months ago, maybe four months ago. I was very skeptical of of how excited it was worth of ah being about Cabin.
Speaker: But he is he's the real deal. I'm i'm really impressed. you know The goal that he got against Mexico was ah a little bit of a gift, we'll say. But... Oh, no. We'll take it, you know? And and I think the run that he had against Peru where he just sort of like goes, ah full, full court, essentially, uh, nearly ends up with an assist.
Speaker: I just really liked what I've seen from the U S national team. Matisse Albert, also another player, i ah We can kind of go down the the the line of of player of young guys who have emerged, but Sebastian Berhalter emerging as like a legit ah player. Gio Reyna, like you said.
Speaker: I mean, I just am i'm very excited about the U.S. national team, and I was ah fully ready to tune out, to be with Alex, Freeman has been phenomenal. I think Richards is probably the best center back that I've seen in a very long time for the U.S. national team. Just the way he handles the game, his dominance in the air duels, how good he is defending in open space. that This team just looks good, guys. So look, if there is something that is going to catch the casual fan, and if you want you know, if you're one of those who believes that the UNSF national team success should be, you know, replicated in mainstream media and on first stake and all this stuff, if there's something that's going to get people going about the UNSF national team is having that young golden child, right? That LeBron, the chosen one type coming out high school, right? That's what you got in Kevin Sullivan because that boy, wo he's got swag. He's, you know, down for every moment. You could just tell with the way he just does his little taunting. You know, the whole thing about him, it's just, this is a guy that is going to get people interested in the United States national team. So from the real soccer aspect of the formation and the,
Speaker: the call-ups and the way that Pochettino's kind of building this team probably for quite a few tournaments coming here in the in the near future. Man, it's just been phenomenal to see. I'm excited as I've ever been for this national team. And you're right, Jeremiah. I mean, there was a point where I was like, that was the golden generation. That's as good as it gets. Now it kind of feels like there might be an even better generation of soccer players coming up. And that that that says a lot.
Speaker: Yeah, and you hit the nail on the head about Kevin Sullivan being that guy who can be the poster child of U.S. soccer. Because that was Christian Pulisic. You know, he was the LeBron James of soccer. That was the the last guy who got mainstream media more talking about the U.S. MNT.
Speaker: He obviously is still the best player the U.S. has ever produced, for my money. um That can be ousted by a player like Kevin Sullivan, but he's got that X factor at such a young age. He has the swag. He has the confidence. I don't know if I necessarily want to hear first take talking about soccer anymore. I think I heard... I heard plenty of that and I wasn't impressed. But um but if if if anything is going to get this team to the kind of level that I think they deserve to be um with the amount of culture in this country for soccer, I think that the young guys leading the line for this USMNT squad that we saw in this window, they can really be the answer to that.
Speaker: right, guys. Well, that said from us, it's been a pleasure just being with you guys, being able to talk soccer, Sounders, MLS, USMNT, my guy AR, J.O. in the backhand doing the producing. Nick Sharga is out here making sure we're doing it right. Thank you to all of you, all the comments, all the likes. The super chats. I'll let you guys know if if you give super chats, do you get an additional raffle ticket for that jersey? You might. Let me figure that out with J.O. because he's probably like, man, what are you doing? ah Where is this money coming from? Don't worry about it. We're going to figure it out. But I appreciate you guys all being part of Monday Soundcheck. Continue to watch us. We'll be here next Monday. Like, share, subscribe. It's been a pleasure.
Speaker: Nico Moreno, have a good weekend. Good weekend, have a good week. Cut me off, JL.
Speaker: Let's go and Sounders.
